HellenicGods.org - ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 22

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 22

OTTO KERN

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For links to many more fragments: The Orphic Fragments of Otto Kern.

PATER (Father)

SUMMARY: This testimony consists of three quotations, each of which states that Orpheus was the son of Calliope; they all also agree that his father was either Oeagrus or Apollo.

ORPHIC CRITICAL TESTIMONY 22.

Ἀπόλλων in an oracle from Mǽnaikhmos of Sikyón (Μέναιχμος ὁ Σικυώνιος; the mathematician) nr. 114, to which Πυθιόνικαι Πινδάρου IV 176 (nr. 58) appears to be anterior:

(καὶ Ἀσκληπιάδης) ἐν ἕκτωι Τραγωιδουμένων (FHG III 303 fr. 8, schol. Pind. IV 176, schol. Apollon. I 32 p. 304 K., schol. A Rhes. 895, II 343 Schw.) ἱστορεῖ Ἀπόλλωνος καὶ Καλλιόπης Ὑμέναιον, Ἰάλεμον, Ὀρφέα.

“And Asklîpiádîs (Ἀσκληπιάδης), in the sixth book of his Τραγῳδούμενα (The Subjects of Tragedy), observes that the children of Apóllôn (Ἀπόλλων) and Kalliópî (Καλλιόπη) are Ymǽnaios (Ὑμέναιος), Iálæmos (Ἰάλεμος), and Orphéfs (Ὀρφεὺς).”

(trans. by the author)

Ovid. Metamorphoses X 167 (v. also XI 7; Kern Orpheus 7 n. 1).

Βιβλιοθήκη Ἀπολλοδώρου I 14:

Καλλιόπης μὲν οὖν καὶ Οἰάγρου, κατ᾽ ἐπίκλησιν δὲ Ἀπόλλωνος, Λίνος, ὃν Ἡρακλῆς ἀπέκτεινε, καὶ Ὀρφεὺς ὁ ἀσκήσας κιθαρωιδίαν, ὃς ἄιδων ἐκίνει λίθους τε καὶ δένδρα.

“Now Calliope bore to Oeagrus or, nominally, to Apollo, a son Linus, whom Hercules slew; and another son, Orpheus, who practised minstrelsy and by his songs moved stones and trees.”

(trans. Sir James George Frazer, 1921)

Scholiast of Ovid Ibis 482 p. 84 Ellis:

Euridice uxor Orfei filii Oeagri et Calliopes, secundum alios filii Phoebi et Calli<opes> fugiens Aristaeum, a serpente percussa periit.

“Euridice, the wife of Orpheus --- the son of Oeagros and Calliope, but according to others, the son of Phoebus and Calliope --- died from being bitten by a snake as Aristaeus fled.”

(trans. by the author)

The story of the birth of the Gods: Orphic Theogony.

We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

Introduction to the Thæí (the Gods): The Nature of the Gods.

How do we know there are Gods? Experiencing Gods.

This logo is the principal symbol of this website. It is called the CESS logo, i.e. the Children of the Earth and the Starry Sky. The Pætilía (Petelia, Πετηλία) and other golden tablets having this phrase are the inspiration for the symbol. The image represents this idea: Earth (divisible substance) and the Sky (continuous substance) are the two kozmogonic substances. The twelve stars represent the Natural Laws, the dominions of the Olympian Gods. In front of these symbols is the seven-stringed kithára (cithara, κιθάρα), the the lyre of Apóllôn (Apollo, Ἀπόλλων). It (here) represents the bond between Gods and mortals and is representative that we are the children of Orphéfs (Orpheus, Ὀρφεύς).

PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the pages of this website, you will find fascinating stories about our Gods. These narratives are known as mythology, the traditional stories of the Gods and Heroes. While these tales are great mystical vehicles containing transcendent truth, they are symbolic and should not be taken literally. A literal reading will frequently yield an erroneous result. The meaning of the myths is concealed in code. To understand them requires a key. For instance, when a God kills someone, this usually means a transformation of the soul to a higher level. Similarly, sexual union with a God is a transformation.

We know the various qualities and characteristics of the Gods based on metaphorical stories: Mythology.

Dictionary of terms related to ancient Greek mythology: Glossary of Hellenic Mythology.

SPELLING: HellenicGods.org uses the Reuchlinian method of pronouncing ancient Greek, the system preferred by scholars from Greece itself. An approach was developed to enable the student to easily approximate the Greek words. Consequently, the way we spell words is unique, as this method of transliteration is exclusive to this website. For more information, visit these three pages:

Pronunciation of Ancient Greek

Transliteration of Ancient Greek

Pronouncing the Names of the Gods in Hellenismos

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